While writing her book Enchanted Islands, Laura Coffey set out on a quest to find the real-life Mediterranean islands that supposedly inspired the fantastical lands in The Odyssey. In this talk, we’ll journey to the island of the sun god, to the volcanic island where Aelous Guardian of the Winds lived, to Calypso's island, the home of the one-eyed Cyclops, and roam through the magical 'island full of wonders' where Christopher Nolan is currently filming his upcoming blockbuster take on The Odyssey. We will even consider if Homer has been misgendered, as Samuel Butler argued back in the 19th century, and consider the enduring appeal of this 3,000-year-old myth. Join us as we encounter sea monsters and sex goddesses, fragile masculinity, toxic gods and polyamory as we look again at this old text with fresh eyes. Together, we'll explore what myths are, the importance of the stories we tell ourselves, and the magical task of mapping imaginary worlds. Laura Coffey is a travel writer, happiest in motion. Her work has been published in places like The Times, The Telegraph, Harper's Bazaar, Condé Nast Traveller, The Guardian and BBC Travel. When she's not writing she works to scale tech-start ups and previously advised three Prime Ministers and set up a new retail bank in the UK. Enchanted Islands is a beautifully written tale that weaves together memoir and mythology and invites us to consider the meaning of home. Stephen Fry called it  magical and captivating, hugely recommended  and it has been long-listed for the Runican Prize 2025 as well as selected by Wanderlust and Citizen Femme as one of the best travel books of 2024. Please note that this talk carries a trigger warning for discussions of terminal cancer, death, and grief. If you have a disability you wish us to consider when attending our events, please inform the staff in advance.

Information Source: Barbican Library - City of London Libraries | eventbrite

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Beautiful conservatory inside one of london&rsquo;s iconic buildings, Barbican. good outing option for a rainy day.

The Ritz London

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Museums

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Walking among the Egyptian mummies, I bump into the glass reflection of Rosetta stone. Patnon sculptures under the cold stone folds, there are always tourists who look up and solidify into silhouettes. The cabinets were crowded than the exhibits, and in the celadon cracks in the East Asia hall, I caught a glimpse of my reflection like those wandering cultural relics, I didn&#39;t know the return date.

Westminster Abbey

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Westminster Abbey is a world-famous Gothic building, both with a magnificent exterior and exquisite interior sculptures that are breathtaking. The church is a frequent visitor to royal coronations, weddings, state funerals, and the tombstones and monuments of great figures such as Newton and Darwin are also here, and the cultural atmosphere is bursting!

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

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Near London Eye|Buckingham Palace, London

The Peninsula London

Near Victoria Railway Station|Belgravia, London

Buckingham Palace

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The Buckingham Palace changing ceremony is an iconic royal cultural event in London, and it is necessary to occupy a vantage point in advance. At the point, the guards wore red uniforms and bearskin hats, and entered the audience in the military band &quot;God Save the King&quot;. The new and old guards carried out the post transition, which was very shocking. A large number of tourists gathered outside the iron gates and scrambled to witness the changing of the guards of the Royal Guard.

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The London Eye is one of the famous landmarks of London. Visitors can take the London Eye to the air and have a bird&#39;s eye view of London. The London Eye turns into a huge blue aura at night, adding to the dreamy temperament of the Thames. When the Thames reflects the blue aura, the London Eye is not only a viewing wheel. It is a revolving London Spirit Monument.

Windsor Castle

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The Queen&#39;s favorite palace is very luxurious, but it is not allowed to take pictures. It can only be taken outside. When entering, a photo was taken and was stopped by the staff. Knowing the life of the royal family, Windsor Castle is generally very quiet.

Time:	Jun 5, 2025 (UTC+0) ENDED
Location:	Barbican Library

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